Wow 2-7! Its a blessing to see you! My God has been so good to me! If I had a thousand tongues it wouldn't be enough to express how awesome he's been on this journey of life with me. He's been better to me than I've been to myself and I thank him for keeping me on the narrow path at this very moment. Remember few find this narrow path along the way and I'm thankful for

staying on the right track.

Now, ten years ago, just what was I doing? Graduating high school and preparing for college. Not knowing what "life" had to offer me, I was only concerned about getting an education with an ending point of capturing a degree to fulfill my goal of a career in news. I honestly thought "life" wouldn't happen. I pushed the thought of sadness and disappointments out of my mind, in hopes of everything to be sunshine and butterflies. One of the reasons behind that was, after my 10th grade year of losing my father, I didn't want sadness to follow me. Instead I wanted to remain strong and make my mother proud of me. Now, looking back there are so many things that if I could have whispered in my ear to do better, I would of. But guess what there was a bigger voice whispering in my ear, after the mistakes and after the tears had been shed. That voice was God Almighty, steering me along the way, telling me to "Be still and know that he is God!" Leaning on to my own understanding can only get you so far as I get closer to 30, I'm very aware of that.

So what would I tell the girl that clung to her journals with bright dreams of the future? First of all, be anxious for nothing. Instead be patient and thankful for the things that at my feet. There were numerous times during my senior year, in which I couldn't wait to get out of my parent's house to experience freedom. I, like most teenagers was anxious to grow up, without realizing the cost along the way. Life was so simple in high school compared to the years of facing the trials of being an adult. We, on the other hand make things so complicated with the idea of wanting to rush everything. Secondly, be slow to speak and quick to listen. Who listens to their parents as teenagers? Not many right and I was one of those that didn't like to listen. Once again at the time I just wanted to lean onto my own understanding. Even the smallest things my parents would say, are beneficial in my life today, and they would definitely been beneficial if I would have had their voice in my head during my freshman year of college. Thankfully now, I can hear my dad saying "Jus keep on livin." Next, I would have definitely in my younger years have kneeled to God more when problems or decisions arose, instead of confiding in others that weren't on the same spiritual path as me. When I was 17, I was into my second year of taking the step into exercising my Christian beliefs. There were things, I still didn't know when I was baptized at 15, but I thank God for guidance along the way. If I had known what I know now, my thoughts would have been left solely at the throne of God and in those that had my best interest at heart, not friends that didn't have a problem with sin or anything else that didn't truly represent God. Those three things may seem small to you, if you're not a believer in Christ or simply because you haven't walked a mile in my shoes. But, they're big to me. 

Since the days of being 17, I've learned some valuable things whether school related, work related, friends, and capturing discernment from past situations where my heart was taken advantage of and played over. Remember, when you know better, you do better! If you're a young lady reading this realize, yes you'll encounter problems on the journey of being a Christian but the important thing is, how did you learn from it? How do you react to it? God doesn't want us to walk in confusion, but instead joy! I'm proud of the young woman I've become-a woman of wisdom and filled with drive, living this earthly life with a purpose. That purpose is to serve God wholeheartedly. I know we fall off track. We're human, but I have no desire to purposely live wrong. Again I'm thankful for the lessons that have molded me into pure gold!

 "But now O Lord, thou art our Father, we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we are all the work of thy hand."~Isaiah 64:8

Some say, "there's nothing wrong with with a little bump and grind" but in reality there's A LOT wrong with it and unfortunately many college bound girls will face that harsh reality as

they enter the beginnings of a new journey all around the world. A time of new experiences, friends, classes, locations-a time of freedom! For most freedom, for the first time in their lives. That freedom can be filled with nervousness or it can be filled with the desires to be wild outside of parental supervision. Either way, its a time of a change with big decisions on the path ahead of you. Along that path, you can either stray away from God's word and promise or you choose to stay on the narrow path. 
      
"Narrow is the path, that leads to life & only few find it."~Matt 7:14

If you're reading this and you're a professed Christian, I get it-you want to have fun. But having fun, can turn into more than you bargained for if your fun involves the pleasures of the world. Remember you body is a temple! I know its easy to get off track, if it weren't I wouldn't be writing this. Simply because I remember my freshman year as if it were yesterday, filled with innocence but unfortunately life brings us tests. The purpose of this post is to show you how to stay on the right track of keeping your promise to God, concerning your bodies. I honestly look back at the things I deemed "ok" and I'm disgusted by those things now. 

There's a reason why sex was meant for marriage and that's to protect us from detrimental soul-ties. I want to encourage you not to feed your fantasies with your boyfriends, not to listen to your friends that whisper to you how great sex is, in order to make you curious. Trust me, its not worth it. However, if you're one of those young women that have bought the hype, there's still another chance and God is the same God he's always been. He's a merciful God, so never be afraid to kneel and ask for forgiveness. Stay in his word and I promise he'll reveal things beyond what you've imagined. Trust me when I say, conviction is real. I'm not telling you what I heard, I'm telling you what I know and there's absolutely no person on this earth that is worth sinning your soul to the pits of hell for.

 I encourage you to stay away from the idea of friends with benefits. Stay away from the games that are meant to string your heart along the way, that you on the other hand think are cute. Once you've given up something so precious that belongs to your future spouse to a boyfriend, it will always be expected of you. So remember, don't start something that you can't finish so easily, to desire love at the end of the road. While you're thinking love, he's thinking lust. Stick to your standards! Know you are worth the wait! As always, you're urged to pray for discernment, in order to identify counterfeit people that enter your life. Those that take advantage of you, targeting you for sex and could care less about your mind or heart.  After you've read this post, search this blog for two other related posts, I've written titled, " The Unbearable Weight of Soul Ties" and "Have You Killed Your Flesh." 

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."~1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Stay encouraged and don't give up fighting the enemy!

   

How many times have you heard a woman mention she's a Proverbs 31 woman? Whether on social

media or from your closest friends? But, how many of these women really understand the portrait of the Proverbs 31 woman? Better yet, how many of these women, know that her journey doesn't stop there, instead its just beginning and should flourish into the portrait of the Titus 2 woman. It amazes me how I see so many quotes about being a virtuous woman, yet no actual knowledge of the concept if you ask a young lady.


I began thinking about this post when I entered one of the classrooms at Girls Inc. to teach my creative writing workshop. For the most part, the experience teaching these girls has been great. I'm definitely using a gift I've been blessed with for the right purpose.

Before entering the classroom, I noticed several scriptures arranged creatively and bright on the door. Of course, that made me smile. Because obviously, its not everyday you see scriptures in the same vicinity as students. I already admired this organization for what it stands for, as a place outside of school, where girls can continue learning educationally and referring to our Lord and Savior makes it all the better! While teaching the class, I noticed a scripture on the board from 1 Peter 1:25, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that has been preached to you." While helping one of the girls with their activities, I referred back to this scripture to show her the meaning of the word endure. You're probably wondering what does this have to do with Titus 2. Well for me, these classes are more than just a creative writing class, teaching the elements of poetry and storytelling. Its teaching with a PURPOSE. A purpose of leading these girls into women of far beyond confidence, but of faith.

Honestly, before beginning my lessons, I was thinking how can I ease my faith into my lessons. After all, my Lord goes with me everywhere, how could I not include him into an opportunity he's blessed me with? (Matt 10:33) It wasn't hard, because my faith was already welcomed at the door.

And the purpose of this post is to inform those that may not know, that being a Titus 2 woman is training younger women unto biblical standards. As we get older, we learn and its only right to lead by example and teach the path for our younger generations.  You may say, "Oh you're still young. How can you teach in the manner of Titus 2?" Well, the answer to that is, I may not be old but with anything you're striving for, you conduct yourself as if you already are in "that" position. For example, when attending a job interview of course you want to walk and talk the part as if you have the part. The same applies to Titus 2-Walk It. Live It. Teach It. The journey within the pages of Proverbs 31 are leading you there. Start your transformation now. There are many young girls and women out there that need your wisdom. Open up and mentor the teenager that may mimic Proverbs 7, whose trying to forget her past and live up to the expectations of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Mentor the young believer, that has just accepted Christ. Encourage the young lady in high school or college, in the midst of many trials and tests of life.  There are many older women that have done the same for us and its only right to set our selves aside and get on our knees to pray for our youth and reach out into our families and communities to help a young lady, facing the same things we've faced.  The Titus 2 woman deserves a pedestal alongside the Proverbs 31 woman, showing just how great generations of women can be, if we continue to teach by being. And by teach, I mean teach from a biblical perspective.

Stay encouraged and remember the Proverbs 31 women of today are the Titus 2 women of tomorrow.

Recently, I began teaching creative writing workshops for Girls Inc. of Dothan, Ala. Maybe you've heard of the organization from other cities. Needless to say, it stands for something great for our young girls.

Even though, I've done one class so far, the feeling of inspiring our youth is awesome! I'm grateful for the opportunity and of course I'm looking forward to the rest of the classes this summer. It really took me back to the days when I was a child with a pen in my hand and dreams in my head.  I'm aiming to make these classes flow with a purpose-a purpose of believing, achieving, and most importantly thinking outside of the box. 

I'm sure you would like to know the activities that I planned for them, during our first lesson. So, first on deck was self-esteem combined with fiction and nonfiction writing. Prior to our class, I came up with 50 questions that could be used as writing prompts (each relating to self-esteem) After typing those questions up and printing them. I cut each one into individual strips and placed them in a jar.  During the class, the girls would reach in for their own question and write accordingly. There answers from this activity were amazing. Some of them shared their fears, hopes, and memories. 

Afterwards, I allowed them to pick between two story prompts. 1.) I dream of________ (job, home, school, pet, ) or 2.) Diving into the past and reflecting on their greatest memory with family, friends, school, and if there was a lesson learned in those memories. 

Both story prompts allowed the girls to think outside the box, while either using their imagination and creating a future of their own or sticking to their own lives in a world of nonfiction. 

It put a smile on my face as I walked across the room, to see that the girls were writing paragraph after paragraph of wonderful stories. Not only that but after each activity they were eager to share, raising their hands before I could get my words out. After the class, was over each participant wanted me to keep their stories for myself. I'm sure I'll look over these and smile knowing that I've made a difference in a child's life with words, even for a small moment. For the most part my goal was achieved for our first lesson. The girls were honest about their fears, hopes, dreams, and concerns of the future. There's no doubt in my mind, that my gift to write, wasn't for me alone, but to inspire others that dream of a future as bright as the sun. I've been blessed and I just want to let my light shine to be a blessing to others. I also encourage you to do the same on your journey.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms."~1 Peter 4:10

As far as I can remember I've always been a light sleeper, but a heavy dreamer. What exactly does that mean? Simply, that I've believed whole heartedly that anything that I've had my mind on achieving was worth striving after. In my world, there's no "can't, if, should, or could." Instead, there's only "PRAY, FAITH, AND JUST DO."

Back-up plans never existed for me. Never once throughout college or afterwards did I have the mentality of thinking what would happen if nothing worked out for me with my degree. First of all, God didn't bring me that far to fail on my dreams that I'd prayed to him about since I was a kid and secondly education is too expensive to not actually run after your goals. Why settle? Why not put your best foot forward?

 In everything you have a purpose-a vision. Have faith in yourself and claim it! I can remember one of the simplest things I can give you as an example. During my sophomore year of high school, I was asked to tryout for an all-star competition at a UCA cheer camp we attended each year. I knew in my heart that I would definitely succeed.  Besides the obvious, of practicing and preparing for the day of tryouts, I completely envisioned myself and the whole routine perfectly in my head. I'd already claimed my victory in my mind and talking to God about it course made the upcoming day much better. There wasn't a thought that filtered through my mind of "what if." Why live on thoughts what you could have done when you could have just did it in the first place. In everything remind yourself to do your absolute best! No the road won't be easy, but don't give up! Press on! Don't stray off the plan A and take the easy way out with plan B. Your plans weren't meant to be easy. Why? Because they're God's plan instead and trust me, his plan is much better. Stay encouraged!

"I give myself away
 So You can use me
 Take my heart
 Take my life
As a living sacrifice
All my dreams, all my plans
Lord I place them in your hands"

Recently I entered the mind of a 17-year-old. That mind belonged to me. I opened a journal from 2005 that I wrote in everyday. Each page had reflections from a prompt for the day and a scripture. I sat on my floor immersed in reading pages from a teenage girl that had just entered Christ with many prayers and dreams of the future. Some pages were filled with fear but most were filled with joy! Yes, there were moments since, in the past that I fell off path but I thank the Lord for deliverance! I'm also thankful for everything my parents have taught me.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." ~ Proverbs 22:6